Books
of Note Archives

Her
tale is about the colorful varieties of human character as well
as the struggles to understand the workings of the material world.
Through true stories of rebels, recluses, heroes, and rogues, she
helps the reader to discover how one idea built upon another and
how an elegant discipline arose out of centuries of difficult trial
and error.

Starting
with the ancient Greeks, Cobb takes the reader on a sweeping tour
of history. She shows how an understanding of basic chemical properties
gradually arose out of ancient Greeks mathematics, Muslim science,
medieval "magick," and the healing arts. Her tour continues
through the scientific revolution, the emergence of physical chemistry
as an independent discipline, and up to the present. Today, physical
chemists contribute to the fields of chemical physiology, chemical
oscillations and waves, quantum mechanics, and the curious and promising
field of nanotechnology.

There
are three men whose contributions helped free science from the straitjacket
of theology. Two of the three — Nicolaus Copernicus and Charles
— are widely known and heralded for their breakthroughs. The third,
James Hutton, never received the same recognition, yet he profoundly
changed our understanding of the earth and its dynamic forces. Hutton
proved that the earth was likely millions of years old rather than
the biblically determined six thousand, and that it was continuously
being shaped and re-shaped by myriad everyday forces rather than
one cataclysmic event. In this expertly crafted narrative, Jack
Repcheck tells the remarkable story of this Scottish gentleman farmer
and how his simple observations on his small tract of land led him
to a theory that was in direct confrontation with the Bible and
that also provided the scientific proof that would spark Darwin's
theory of evolution. It is also the story of Scotland and the Scottish
Enlightenment, which brought together some of the greatest thinkers
of the age, from David Hume and Adam Smith to James Watt and Erasmus
Darwin. Finally, it is a story about the power of the written word.
Repcheck argues that Hutton's work was lost to history because he
could not describe his findings in graceful and readable prose.
(Unlike Darwin's Origin of the Species,
Hutton's one and only book was impenetrable.) A marvelous narrative
about a little-known man and the science he founded, The
Man Who Found Time is also a parable about the power of books to shape
the history of ideas.

What
if Earth had several moons or massive rings like Saturn? What if
the Sun were but one star in a double-star or triple-star system.
What if Earth were the only planet circling the Sun? These and other
imaginative scenarios are the subject of Many Skies. As well
as examining the changes in science that these alternative solar,
stellar, and galactic arrangements would have brought, the author
also explores the different theologies, astrologies, and methods
of tracking time that would have developed to reflect them. Our
perception of our surroundings, the number of gods we worship, the
symbols we use in art and literature, even the way we form nations
and empires are all closely tied to our particular (and accidental)
placement in the universe.

Who
are the extraordinary individuals that will take us on the next
great space race, the next great human endeavor, our exploration
and colonization of the planet Mars? And more importantly, how are
they doing it? Acclaimed science writer Oliver Morton explores the
peculiar and fascinating world of the new generation of explorers:
geologists, scientists, astrophysicists and dreamers. Morton shows
us the complex and beguiling role that mapping will play in our
understanding of the red planet, and more deeply, what it means
for humans to envision such heroic landscapes. Charting a path from
the 19th century visionaries to the spy-satellite pioneers to the
science fiction writers and the arctic explorers—till now,
to the people are taking us there—Morton unveils the central
place that Mars has occupied in the human imagination, and what
it will mean to realize these dreams. A pioneering work of journalism
and drama, Mapping Mars gives us our first exciting glimpses of
the world to come and the curious, bizarre, and amazing people who
will take us there.

From
the Foreword: "Nineteenth century America was filled with pioneers
whose lives revolved around exploration and discovery (Maria
Mitchells) territory was the heavens, and her exploration
made her a leader in the advancement of women in science ."
Americas first woman astronomer was born in 1818 on Nantucket
Island, Massachusetts, where women were largely self-sufficient
since Nantucket men were gone to sea for long periods. She became
well-versed in the operation of key navigational devices such as
the sextant and telescope and taught herself the fundamentals of
calculus and higher-level mathematics while serving as librarian
at the Nantucket Antheneum library. Twenty years later, now internationally
renowned, she was a welcome guest in salons of the worlds
leading scientists and literary figures and served for more than
two decades at the first Professor of Astronomy at Vassar College.
Featuring extensive excerpts from Maria Mitchells diaries
and journals, this richly illustrated book was edited by Henry Albers,
astronomy professor for 22 years at Vassar College and the fifth
director of the Vassar College Observatory.

To
the ancient Greeks the universe consisted of earth, air, fire and
water. To Saint Augustine it was the Word of God. To many modern
scientists it is the interaction of atoms and waves, and in years
to come it may be different again. What then is the real universe?
History shows that in every age society constructs its own universe,
believing it to be the real and final one. Yet these are only models,
or masks covering what is not understood and not known. This book
brings together fundamental scientific, philosophical, and religious
issues in cosmology, raising thought provoking questions. In every
age people have pitied the universes of their ancestors, convinced
that they have at last discovered the full truth. Do we now stand
at the threshold of knowing everything, or will our latest model
also be rejected by our descendants?

This
new edition has been completely rewritten and includes new chapters
on the nature of time, and of perception. It broadens the
popular treatment of cosmology, and includes topics such as the
containment riddle, the creation and design of the universe, and
the meaning of consciousness.

In
this journey through the "Himalayas of mathematics," the
author recreates the solutions to the five greatest mathematical
problems of all time: The Four-Color Map Problem, Fermats
Last Theorem, The Continuum Hypothesis, Keplers Conjecture,
and Hilberts Tenth Problem. In retelling the story of Hilbert's
Tenth Problem, for instance, he sweeps from Britain to New York
to Leningrad and introduces us to such luminaries as Alan Turing,
before turning to the young Soviet researcher who credited his breakthrough
to a 700-year-old Italian problem about rabbits. He describes how
Fermat's Last Theorem tantalized generations of scientists, who
tried for three centuries to answer it, and relates how the final
solution was greeted with the unprecedented front-page headlines,
prize money, and international celebration--before a flaw (soon
resolved) turned up. Casti's account of the struggle to solve Kepler's
Conjecture wittily reveals how the "proof of the obvious"
sometimes eludes us for centuries. And his discussion of The Continuum
Hypothesis movingly portrays the tragic figure of Georg Cantor,
the troubled genius who created the first truly original mathematics
since the Greeks, yet died insane in an institution. Casti closes
with a preview of the "Magnificent Seven" - the greatest
unsolved mathematical mysteries, each of which carries a million-dollar
bounty from the Clay Mathematics Institute -including the Poincare
Conjecture, the Yang-Mills Existence and Mass Gap (why physicists
can't isolate quarks), and the Reimann Hypothesis ("the granddaddy
of all mathematical mysteries").

Max
goes to the Moon combines a lavishly illustrated picture book
format with fundamental science concepts. In this adventure, Max
the Dog and his young human friend Tori undertake a quest to make
the first trip to the Moon since the Apollo era. Their trip inspires
the nations of the world to join together to build a Moon colony.
The engaging story encourages children to learn, dream, and explore,
while offering the message that we live on a precious planet. Everything
that happens in the story corresponds to scientific principles which
are clearly explained in "Big Kid Boxes" that appear on
each page. At the end of the book there is a simple science-based
activity that children and parents can enjoy together.

Just
published, Max Goes to Mars finds Max the dog is ready for
his next adventure — the first human mission to Mars. But
the trip is too long for his human friend Tori to make, so she helps
Max prepare for the journey. On the red planet, Max sniffs out many
mysteries — and makes one of the most important discoveries
of all time. This engaging story fuels young readers' interest in
space travel, while explaining difficult scientific concepts in
an easy-to-understand manner.

From
the Prologue: In June 1792—in the dying days of the French
monarchy, as the world began to revolve around a new promise of
Revolutionary equality—two astronomers set out in opposite
directions on an extraordinary quest. The erudite and cosmopolitan
Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Delambre made his way north from Paris, while
the cautious and scrupulous Pierre-François-André
Méchain made his way south. Each man left the capital in
a customized carriage stocked with the most advanced scientific
instruments of the day and accompanied by a skilled assistant. Their
mission was to measure the world, or at least that piece of the
meridian arc, which ran from Dunkerque through Paris to Barcelona.
Their hope was that all the world's peoples would henceforth use
the globe as their common standard of measure. Their task was to
establish this new measure—"the meter"—as
one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the equator.

The
meter would be eternal because it had been taken from the earth,
which was itself eternal. And the meter would belong equally to
all the people of the world, just as the earth belonged equally
to them all. In the words of their Revolutionary colleague Condorcet—the
founder of mathematical social science and history's great optimist—the
metric system was to be "for all people, for all time."

The
untold story of the religious figures, philosophers, astronomers,
geologists, physicists, and mathematicians who, for more than four
hundred years, have pursued the answer to a fundamental question
at the intersection of science and religion: When did the universe
begin? From the story of Bishop James Ussher who asserted the world
and time began at 6 PM on Saturday, October 22, 4004 BC to the Hubble
Space Telescope’s current estimate of 13.4 billion years.

Humans
have always viewed the heavens with wonder and awe. The skies have
inspired reflection on the vastness of space, the wonder of creation,
and humankind's role in the universe. In just over one hundred years,
science has moved from almost total ignorance about the actual distances
to the stars and earth's place in the galaxy to our present knowledge
about the enormous size, mass, and age of the universe. We are reaching
the limits of observation, and therefore the limits of human understanding.
Beyond lies only our imagination, seeded by the theories of physics.
In Measuring the Cosmos, science writers David and Matthew
Clark tell the stories of both the well-known and the unsung heroes
who played key roles in these discoveries. These true accounts reveal
ambitions, conflicts, failures, as well as successes, as the astonishing
scale and age of the universe were finally established. Few areas
of scientific research have witnessed such drama in the form of
ego clashes, priority claims, or failed (or even falsified) theories
as that resulting from attempts to measure the universe. Besides
giving credit where long overdue, Measuring the Cosmos explains
the science behind these achievements.

From
the Introduction: "How should the twentieth century, during
which I lived more than nine decades be described? Its culture was
science and technology; its course was unpredictable changes; its
fate was to suffer two major wars and a confrontation between two
visions of mankind that threatened to lead to a third. My own life
has been shaped by each of these forces, and I have been a bystander
and also a participant in many of the events connected with these
major upheavals. My dreams were of other stuff, but some of my directions
were present from the time of my earliest youth. Science was my
earliest passion. I cannot divorce any of the major events in my
life from the way of thinking that the study of science imposes.
Such thought is not necessarily straightforward logic, but it never
permits one to ignore facts or to substitute authority for self-conviction."

They
range in size from microscopic particles to masses of many tons.
The geologic diversity of asteroids and other rocky bodies of the
solar system are displayed in the enormous variety of textures and
mineralogies observed in meteorites. The composition, chemistry,
and mineralogy of primitive meteorites collectively provide evidence
for a wide variety of chemical and physical processes. This book
synthesizes our current understanding of the early solar system,
summarizing information about processes that occurred before its
formation.

Bill
Cassidy led meteorite recovery expeditions in the Antarctic for
fifteen years and his searches have resulted in the collection of
thousands of meteorite specimens from the ice. This personal account
of his field experiences on the U.S. Antarctic Search for Meteorites
Project reveals the influence the work has had on our understanding
of the moon, Mars and the asteroid belt. Cassidy describes the hardships
and dangers of fieldwork in a hostile environment, as well as the
appreciation he developed for its beauty. He initiated the U.S.
Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) project and led meteorite
recovery expeditions in Antarctica in1976. His name is found attached
to a mineral (cassidyite), on the map of Antarctica (Cassidy Glacier),
and in the Catalog of Asteroids (3382 Cassidy).

A huge
amount of extraterrestrial matter enters the Earth’s atmosphere
every year and eventually settles on the ground. The two main sources
of this matter are cosmic dust and meteoroid streams. Meteorites
form only a very small fraction of the total mass that is captured
by the Earth’s atmosphere. Most of the mater is in the form
of very fine dust particles. Because of the temperatures reached
during entry, a large proportion of these particles evaporates at
high altitudes, giving rise to radar signatures and the visual phenomenon
of shooting stars.

This
book integrates astronomical observations and theories with geophysical
studies to present a comprehensive overview of the extraterrestrial
matter that falls to Earth from space. Meteoroids are the main topic
of the book, although cosmic dust, interplanetary matter, and meteorites
are also discussed.

Meteor
Showers and their Parent Comets is a unique handbook for astronomers
interested in observing meteor storms and outbursts. Spectacular
displays of 'shooting stars' are created when the Earth's orbit
crosses a meteoroid stream, as each meteoroid causes a bright light
when it enters our atmosphere at high speed. Jenniskens, an active
meteor storm chaser, explains how meteoroid streams originate from
the decay of meteoroids, comets and asteroids, and how they cause
meteor showers on Earth. He includes the findings of recent space
missions to comets and asteroids, the risk of meteor impacts on
Earth, and how meteor showers may have seeded the Earth with ingredients
that made life possible. All known meteor showers are identified,
accompanied by fascinating details on the most important showers
and their parent comets. The book predicts when exceptional meteor
showers will occur over the next 50 years, making it a valuable
resource for both amateur and professional astronomers.

At
the beginning of the twentieth century, scientists argued over the
size of the universe: was it, as the astronomer Harlow Shapley argued,
the size of the Milky Way, or was there more truth to Edwin Hubble's
claim that our own galaxy is just one among billions? The answer
to the controversy–a "yardstick" suitable for measuring
the cosmos–was discovered by Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who was
employed by the Harvard Observatory as a number cruncher, at a wage
not dissimilar from that of workers in the nearby textile mills.
Miss Leavitt's Stars uncovers her neglected history, and
brings a fascinating and turbulent period of astronomical history
to life.

We
are at the dawning of a new era in the study of space, thanks in
no small part to the Galileo space probe. Mission Jupiter tells
the full story of Galileo: a revealing look at its difficult course
from idea to reality; its launch; the problems it encountered early
on and how these were resolved; and finally, what will become of
the probe. Along the way, the author describes what we've learned
about Jupiter, including what the Jovian atmosphere is really like,
and the peculiar reality of the planet's magnetic field. The story
of the journey to Jupiter concludes with a look to the future, closing
on the Cassini probe to Saturn, launched just last year. Illustrated
with more than 40 images in full color, Mission Jupiter shows space
exploration at its best and conveys the essential science clearly
and vividly.

Examines
the complex –- and often problematic -– relations between
education research, policy, and practice, and proposes ways to improve
those relationships in the interest of meaningful education reform.
Based on the Burton and Inglis Lectures, which Michael Feuer delivered
at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2004 and 2005, the
book begins with an examination of how recent developments in cognitive
science have fundamentally changed the way we understand human decisionmaking
and rational judgment. It then proceeds to a consideration of how
the lessons of cognitive science might inform a more rational–and
reasonable–approach to education research, policy, and reform.

Charles
Wood's "Lunar Notebook" column in Sky & Telescope
has been delighting readers for years. Now Wood brings his insightful
and clear prose about our closest celestial neighbor to you in this
new book. Drawing on both traditional telescopic observations of
the Moon and the modern explorations of the Apollo, Clementine,
and Lunar Prospector missions, The Modern Moon: A Personal View
is an authoritative guidebook that tells readers both what to look
for and why to look. Set up your telescope and let Wood unravel
the Moon's complex past as you gaze at lunar vistas.

Ian
Tattersall is widely regarded as one of the rare eminent scientists
who is also a graceful and engaging writer. In this new work he
attempts to answer the most controversial questions on human origins:
What makes us so different? How did we get this way? How do we know?
Guiding readers around the world and far into the past, Tattersall
examines and explores evolutionary theory, a science based not on
a finite set of conclusions drawn from overwhelming evidence, but
rather our evolving effort to make sense out of a handful of incomplete
fossil remains.

A cat
and his firefly pal take young readers on a delightful romp to learn
all about the Earth's moon. Through the use of simple yet engaging
text and exuberant artwork, the book shows children how the moon
interacts with the sun, how it seems to change shape in the sky,
and how it glows. During their colorful, guided tour, kids also
will learn about humans' first trip to the moon and what we found
there. An experiment at the end of the book shows young scientists
how to make craters and understand more clearly how they formed
on the moon. Full-color photographs throughout.

In
1961, only a few weeks after Alan Shepherd completed the first American
suborbital flight, President John F. Kennedy announced that the
United States would put a man on the Moon before the end of the
decade. The next year, NASA awarded the right to meet the extraordinary
challenge of building a lunar excursion module to a small aircraft
company called Grumman in Long Island, New York.

Chief
engineer Thomas J. Kelly gives a first-hand account of designing,
building, testing, and flying the Apollo lunar module. The account
begins with the imaginative process of sketching solutions to a
host of technical challenges with an emphasis on safety, reliability,
and maintainability. He catalogs numerous test failures, including
propulsion-system leaks, ascent-engine instability, stress corrosion
of the aluminum alloy parts, and battery problems, as well as their
fixes under the ever-present constraints of budget and schedule.

The
Soviet-American race to land the first man on the Moon was a technical
challenge unlike anything in modern human history. BBC Aerospace
Correspondent Reginald Turnill covered the story, and his reports
were heard and seen by millions worldwide. With unparalleled access
to the politicians, scientists, and technicians involved in the
race to the Moon, Turnill knew all the early astronauts—Alan Shepard,
John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin—as they pioneered the techniques
that made the Moon landings possible. He became a friend of Dr.
Wernher von Braun, the German rocket pioneer and mastermind behind
the technology, disclosing his master plans for manned bases on
the Moon and Mars. By drawing on his correspondences with every
key figure involved, Turnill delivers a unique insider's account
of one of the most thrilling adventures of the 20th century.

Announced
in 1977, built by 1983, and launched in 1989, Project Galileo is
NASA's most ambitious interplanetary mission to date. Over the roughly
thirteen years that the Galileo probe has been in orbit, it has
transmitted over 6,000 images of Jupiter and its many moons. The
Moons of Jupiter draws on this treasure trove of images as well
as images from the Voyager and Cassini missions and the Hubble Telescope.
The spectacular visual tour encompasses the four main moons: the
volcanic Io, the most active volcanic body in the solar system;
the cratered Callisto, the most distant moon; the giant Ganymede,
the largest moon in the solar system that pulsates with its own
magnetic field; the mysterious Europa, beneath whose ice-covered
surface may exist oceans teeming with extraterrestrial life; as
well as Jupiter's churning Great Red Spot and the minor moons of
the Jovian solar system—some forty moons in all.

In
clear language and with full color photographs and illustrations
throughout, Moon Observer's Guide offers practical guidance
to amateur astronomers viewing Earth's only natural satellite. There
is valuable advice for observing the Moon with the naked eye, binoculars
and telescopes. Central to this book is a detailed 28-day guide
to lunar features. Lunar geology and the various causes of physical
features, such as craters and volcanoes, are described.

Also
included are: guidelines for choosing binoculars and telescopes;
ways of recording observations; digital and conventional photography;
using Internet resources, personal computers and lunar software
programs; safety tips for observing the moon during solar and lunar
eclipses; detailed moon maps.

What
does one do for their second act when their first was walking on
the Moon? When Andrew Smith set out to answer that question, even
NASA didn’t know what had become of each of the nine surviving members
of the Apollo Moon program. Some buckled. Some thrived. Two became
beer distributors. One became an artist, addressing the question,
“What did the moon look like up close?” Another immersed himself
in studying faith healing and paranormal phenomena at his New Age
institute. Others cheerfully peddle autographs at Star Trek conventions.
Their stories are full of twists and turns, doubts and reinventions
and in his lively first-person account of his encounters with each
of the Moonwalkers, Smith reveals how one extraordinary act in the
lives of these complex, hyper-competitive men triggered a spectrum
of consequences they had never anticipated.

Moonwatch
is the convenient combination of three useful items for observing
the Moon. These include: Moon Observer's Guide ; highly detailed
map of the Moon's near side and photographic poster showing the
Lunar phases.

The
Moon Observer's Guide is a highly illustrated, practical
introduction to moon-watching. It is organized with a twenty-eight
day observing diary, and features tips on recording observations
and helpful advice on Lunar photography. The Moon Map (40"
x 27") is a highly detailed look at the Moon's near side. Hundreds
of physical features—all of which can be seen with binoculars or
a telescope—are labeled and indexed, including the locations of
Lunar landings. The sidebar text offers practical guidance on moonwatching
and highlights spectacular features. A smaller map of the far side
completes this comprehensive depiction of the Lunar surface. The
Moon poster (34 1/2" x 23") is a photograph showing all
the Lunar phases. The poster is double-sided, showing how the Moon
is seen from both the southern and northern hemispheres.

Want
to explore Mars? Observe Jupiters cloud bands? Visit a galaxy
thats almost 2 million light years away? With More Telescope
Power, you can do all of that and more! Under the guidance of
experienced astronomer Gregory Matloff, youll uncover the
full potential of your telescope as you take a fascinating tour
of the universe. Along the way youll learn plenty of new observation
techniques, including: using various eyepieces and filters; tracking
satellites; observing comets and meteors; using sunspots to determine
solar rotation; and much, much more. Filled with dozens of all-new
stargazing projects and observing activities, this detailed guide
also contains plenty of helpful illustrations such as finder charts,
lunar and solar eclipse tables, diagrams, and photos.

The
Ancient Chinese Astronomy Exhibition took place at the Hong Kong
Science Museum between 15 November 2001 and 7 April 2002. To mark
the occasion, Curator Yip regrouped some forty pieces of the exhibits
by their nature and compiled this beautifully conceived large format
book. The first chapter introduces starmaps and records related
to the Chinese sky. The second details instruments for observation
in Ancient China. The third focuses on ancient legends and relics
related to astronomy. The fourth mainly introduces how ancient Chinese
made use of the Sun, Moon, stars, clepsydras and joss sticks to
tell time.

From
the Foreword: The Chinese Poet Want Bo had written in his poem "Tower
of the Prince of Teng," "But things change, constellations
move - how many autumns gone by? And where today is the Prince of
the tower?" Astronomical instruments that were once exclusively
used by emperors and a handful of ministers have witnessed the rise
and fall of regimes and endured turmoil precipitated from power
struggles and wars. Today they travel around the world as cultural
ambassadors. They show visitors from all walks of life the beauty
and elegance of science and art in the ancient world. And this echoes
the meaning of the title of this book "Moving Stars, Changing
Scenes."

Unlike
the myriad points of light we gaze at in the night sky, our nearest
star allows us to study the wonders of stellar workings at blindingly
close range—from a mere 93 million miles away. And what do
we see? In this book, two of the world's leading solar scientists
unfold all that history and science—from the first cursory
observations to the measurements obtained by the latest state-of-the-art
instruments on the ground and in space—have revealed about
the Sun. Following the path of science from the very center of this
380,000,000,000,000,000,000-megawatt furnace to its explosive surface,
Nearest Star invites readers into an open-ended narrative of discovery
about what we know about the Sun and how we have learned it.

How
did the Sun evolve, and what will it become? What is the origin
of its light and heat? How does solar activity affect the atmospheric
conditions that make life on earth possible? These are the questions
at the heart of solar physics, and at the center of this book. Having
made optical solar observations with many solar telescopes and in
the rockets and satellites, the authors bring their extensive personal
experience to this story of how astronomers study the Sun, and what
they have discovered about phenomena from eclipses to neutrinos,
space weather, and global warming. Richly illustrated with an assortment
of pictures from the latest solar missions and the newest telescopes.

The
first full account of the dramatic events surrounding the eighth
planets discovery, and the story of two remarkable men who
were able to "see" on papers what astronomers looking
through telescopes for more than 200 years had never seen. Neptunes
discovery heralded the beginning of a new era of planet detection
and marked the genesis of astronomers using mathematics, instead
of telescopes, to locate new planets  a method that has led
to an extraordinary series of discoveries.

This
comprehensive, full-color star atlas is the successor to Firefly’s
previous book, The Great Atlas of the Stars, with a significant
difference. In addition to the galaxies of the Northern Hemisphere,
The New Atlas of the Stars includes the Southern Hemisphere and
the Equatorial Region. As well, thirty sky charts, each with a clear
plastic overlay, feature the important stars and constellations.
Features the superb images of world-renowned astrophotographer,
Axel Mellinger.

New
Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy
Request a copy (http://www.nap.edu)
or read on-line

Solar
system exploration is that grand human endeavor which reaches out
through interplanetary space to discover the nature and origins
of the system of planets in which we live and to learn whether life
exists beyond Earth. It is an international enterprise involving
scientists, engineers, managers, politicians, and others, sometimes
working together and sometimes in competition, to open new frontiers
of knowledge. It has a proud past, a productive present, and an
auspicious future. This survey was requested by the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) to determine the contemporary nature
of solar system exploration and why it remains a compelling activity
today. A broad survey of the state of knowledge was requested. In
addition NASA asked for the identification of the top-level scientific
questions to guide its ongoing program and a prioritized list of
the most promising avenues for flight investigations and supporting
ground-based activities.

Fifteen
years on from the highly praised The New Physics, new scientific
advances have led to a dramatic reappraisal of our understanding
of the world around us, and made a significant impact on our lifestyle.
Underpinning all the other branches of science, physics affects
the way we live our lives and ultimately how life itself functions.
This fully rewritten new edition investigates key frontiers in modern
physics. Exploring our universe, from the particles within atoms
to the stars making up galaxies, it reveals the vital role invisible
mechanisms play in the world around us, and explains new techniques,
from nano-engineering and brain research to the latest advances
in high-speed data networks and custom-built materials. Written
by leading international experts, each of the nineteen self-contained
chapters will fascinate scientists of all disciplines, and anyone
wanting to know more about the world of physics.

The
principles of quantum mechanics are the basis of everything in the
physical world—from atoms to stars, from nuclei to lasers.
Quantum paradoxes and the eventful life of Schroedinger's Cat are
explained, along with the Many Universe explanation of quantum measurement
in this newly revised edition of The Quantum Universe (1987).
Updated throughout, the book also looks ahead to the nanotechnology
revolution and describes quantum cryptography, computing and teleportation
science fiction.

Mr.
Tompkins is back! The mild-mannered bank clerk with the short attention
span and vivid imagination has inspired, charmed and informed since
the publication of Mr. Tompkins in Paperback in 1965. Completely
revised and updated, this new version retains the original British
charm while introducing Mr. Tompkins to some of the most important
developments that have taken place in recent years, including Einstein's
relativity and bizarre effects near the speed of light, the birth
and death of the universe, blackholes, quarks, space warps and antimatter,
the fuzzy world of the quantum and the ultimate demolition derby
of atom smashers.

Winner
of the "Best French Astronomy Book 2001" and written from the perspective
of one of the pioneers of this scientific adventure, New Worlds
in the Cosmos describes the development of the modern observing
technique that has enabled astronomers to find so many planets orbiting
around other stars. It reveals the wealth of new planets that have
now been discovered outside our solar system, and the meaning of
this finding as it concerns other life in the Universe. Michel Mayor
is Director of the Observatory of Geneva, Switzerland. In 1995,
together with Didier Queloz, he discovered the extrasolar planet
(51 Peg b) around a main sequence star, and has discovered many
more since.

Night
Sky Atlas combines clear, accurate star maps with reliable
and informative text. Sturdy binding makes it suitable for outdoor
use. Cover flaps can be used as page-markers, and the sewn binding
allows the atlas to be opened flat. The star maps are drawn with
black stars on a white background, allowing observers to pencil
in their own observations (the high quality paper can withstand
repeated use of an eraser!). The book begins by presenting the whole
sky in a series of six maps, showing stars down to magnitude 5.5–all
visible with binoculars or a small telescope. Opposite each map
is a photo-realistic image that shows how the same portion of sky
looks to the naked eye, allowing less-experienced observers to quickly
find specific objects of interest. Other features include: forty
large scale constellation charts; a full set of seasonal charts;
maps of the Moon and the planets; deep sky maps identifying double
stars, nebula and more.

This
book is a down-to-earth guide for finding astronomical features
in the Northern Hemisphere without the aid of expensive telescopes
or complicated sky maps. Organized chronologically, a simple color
photo of the night sky shows which direction to face and where to
look for such planets as Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. Chapters
are divided into months and include the Moon's phases, dates of
planetary and star positions, and specific times to watch. Includes
historical details and phenomena such as lunar and solar eclipses,
constellations, and comets, as well as historical tidbits and useful
tips.

The
first three editions of NightWatch sold more than 600,000 copies,
making it the top-selling stargazing guide in the world for the
last 20 years. The key feature of this classic title is the section
of star charts that are cherished by backyard astronomers everywhere.
Each new edition has outsold the previous one because of thorough
revisions and additional new material. The fourth edition has revisions
in every chapter, including:

The
famous charts, ideal for stargazers using a small telescope or
binoculars

A
complete update of the equipment section, including computerized
telescopes

An
enlarged photography section, including how-to instructions for
using the new generation of digital cameras for astronomical photography,
both with and without a telescope

The
tables of future solar and lunar eclipses, planetary conjunctions
and planet locations, updated through 2018.

This
edition includes for the first time star charts for use in the southern
hemisphere. There are also dozens of new photographs throughout
the book that show the latest thrilling discoveries made by current
space observatories and probes.

This
challenging collection of problems is organized into seven carefully
crafted, thoughtful chapters on the Sun and the nature of the solar
system; the motion of the planets; the Sun, Earth, and Moon; the
sky as observed from the rotating, revolving Earth; other planets,
their satellites, their rings; asteroids, comets, and meteoroids;
and the radiations and telescopes. From question 1, "List characteristics
of the solar system that are major clues in devising a hypothesis
of its origin and evolution," through question 924, "Give
a brief list of the contributions of radio and radar technologies
in lunar and planetary astronomy," the problems range in difficulty
from ones requiring only simple knowledge to ones requiring significant
understanding and analysis. Many of the answers, in turn, illuminate
the questions by providing basic explanations of the concepts involved.
Regent Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University
of Iowa and a "founding father" of the space age, Van
Allen formally retired from teaching in 1985. He recently celebrated
his 90th birthday and remains an active researcher, arriving
at his office daily to examine data from space-based instruments
of his own design on board Pioneer 10 and earlier spacecraft.

Using
an original approach, Mauro Dardo recounts the major achievements
of 20th century physics--including relativity, quantum mechanics,
atomic and nuclear physics, the invention of the transistor and
the laser, superconductivity, binary pulsars, and the Bose-Einstein
condensate--as each emerged. His year-by-year chronicle, biographies
and revealing personal anecdotes help bring to life the main events
since the first Nobel Prize was awarded in 1901. The work of the
most famous physicists of the twentieth century--including the Curies,
Bohr, Heisenberg, Einstein, Fermi, Feynman, Gell-Mann, Rutherford,
and Schrödinger--is presented, often in the words and imagery
of the prize-winners themselves.

Noted
physicist Henning Genz tells a history of emptiness as explored
in physics and philosophy for the nonscientist, using stories, illustrations,
and analyses to elucidate complex ideas. Some of the greatand
not so greatthinkers of history were inspired by the debate
over empty space. In the 17th century, Evalgelista Torricelli,
a student of Galileos, proved space without air is possible,
thus opening the floodgates for research into what could possibly
be present in place of air. In the wake of Torricellis discovery
came various attempts to create totally empty space, most of them
humorous in their wild creativity and in their very public failure.
Other investigations resulted in some of the fundamentals of modern
physics, from Einsteins insistence that there can be no space
without matter to quantum physicist Werner Heisenbergers "uncertainty
principle."

Genz
also moves behind the stories to explain how the study of nothingness
has both contributed to and benefited from major scientific discoveries,
including Big Bang cosmology, and also explores space time, ur-matter,
the Higgs field, relativity, and quantum mechanics.

At
the core of the atom, enshrouded by electrons, lies the nucleus.
The discovery of the nucleus transformed the past century and will
revolutionize this one. Though many persons associate nuclear physics
with weapons of mass destruction, it is an exciting, cutting-edge
science that has helped to save lives through innovative medical
technologies, such as the MRI. In nuclear astrophysics, state-of-the-art
theoretical and computer models help to explain the powerful stellar
known as supernovas, to account for how stars shine, and to describe
how the chemical in the universe were formed.

Nucleus:
A Trip into the Heart of Matter tells the story of the nucleus
from the early experimental work of the quiet New Zealander Lord
Rutherford to the huge atom-smashing machines of today and beyond.
Nucleus tells of the protons and neutrons of which the nucleus
is made, why some nuclei crumble and are radioactive, and how scientists
came up with the "standard model," which shows the nucleus composed
of quarks held together by gluons. It is also the tale of the people
behind the struggle to understand this fascinating subject more
fully, and of how a research community uses the power of the nucleus
to probe unanswered scientific questions others seek to harness
the nucleus as a tool of twenty-first-century medicine.

The
long-awaited second edition of this well-received textbook gives
a thorough introduction to observational astronomy. Starting with
the basics of positional astronomy and systems of time, it continues
with charts and catalogs covering both historically important publications
and modern electronic databases. The book builds on a fundamental
discussion of the basics of light and the effects of the atmosphere
on astronomical observations. Chapters include discussions of optical
telescopes, detectors, photometry, variable stars, astrometry, spectroscopy,
and solar observations. This edition contains new discussions of
measurements with CCDs and appendices give basic statistical methods,
useful astronomical software and websites, and sources of accurate
time-calibration signals. Examples based on real astronomical data
are placed throughout the text. Each of the well-illustrated chapters
is supported by a set of graduated problems and suggestions for
further reading.

In
its 96th year of publication, the Handbook is a concise,
high-density compilation of information that is of interest to observers.
Each year, some 12,000 copies are distributed to amateur and professional
astronomers, educators, observatories, libraries and planetaria.
Since the first edition in 1907, the various editors, assistants
and contributors have voluntarily contributed their time and expertise
and the Handbook is hence the main source of income for the RASC.
Among the many other updated sections in this edition are: Comets
in 2004, Natural Satellites of the Planets, the Nearest Stars, and
an expanded Index.

A perennial
favorite, the Observer's Handbook gathers the expertise of
more than 40 astronomers to detail times of sunrise and sunset,
moonrise and moonset, where to find the planets -- major and minor,
the movements of the major moons of Jupiter and Saturn, variable
star cycles and countless other celestial events. Published since
1907 by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the renowned Observer's
Handbook is the astronomy hobbyist's standard reference for
astronomical data for North America.

The
Messier Catalogue is a list of one hundred and ten galaxies, star
clusters and nebulae, and includes many of the brightest and best-known
objects in the sky. Amateur astronomers who find all the objects
on the list in one night have successfully completed the Messier
Marathon. The Observing Guide to the Messier Marathon
contains over 90 easy-to-use star maps to guide the observer from
one object to the next, and provides tips for a successful night
of observing. Don Machholz also tells the story of the eighteenth-century
astronomer, Charles Messier, and how he came to compile his extensive
catalogue. This complete guide to the Messier Marathon will help
the amateur astronomer to observe the Messier Objects throughout
the year, using a small telescope or a pair of binoculars.

This
useful guide for amateur astronomers takes readers on a celestial
journey to many of the most prominent stars and constellations visible
from mid-northern latitudes. A great first-time reference, this
book will help beginning stargazers become familiar with the stars
and constellations visible from their backyards through inexpensive,
handheld binoculars.

Introducing
a range of useful techniques and skills for those wishing to undertake
observational work in astronomy and planetary science, this book
covers the principles of telescopes and detectors, photometry and
spectroscopy and microscopy techniques for analyzing samples. Contents:

Gerald
North's complete practical guide and resource package instructs
amateur astronomers in observing and monitoring variable stars and
other objects of variable brightness. Descriptions of the objects
are accompanied by explanations of the background astrophysics,
providing readers with real insight into what they are observing
at the telescope. The main instrumental requirements for observing
and estimating the brightness of objects by visual means and by
CCD photometry are detailed, and there is advice on the selection
of equipment. The book contains a CD-ROM packed with resources,
including hundreds of light-curves and over 600 printable finder
charts. Containing extensive practical advice, this comprehensive
guide is an invaluable resource for amateur astronomers of all levels,
from novices to more advanced observers.

Astronomer
Joseph Silk explores the Universe from its beginnings to its ultimate
fate. He demonstrates how cosmologists study cosmic fossils and
relics from the distant past to construct theories of the birth,
evolution and future of the Universe. Stars, galaxies, dark matter
and dark energy are described, as successive chapters detail the
evolution of the Universe from a fraction of a microsecond after
the Big Bang. Silk describes how physicists apply theories of subatomic
particles to recreate the first moments of the Big Bang, and how
astronomers chart the vast depths of space to glimpse how the most
distant galaxies formed. He gives an account of the search for dark
matter and the dark energy that will determine the ultimate fate
of the Universe.

From
the Introduction: "This book is about power. It shows how one
man, Tycho Brahe, used his powerful position to bend the lives of
hundreds of others toward a goal that he deemed important: a new
understanding of the cosmos. It shows how he established a new role
for the astronomer as large-scale organizer, active reformer, and
natural philosopher." From his private island in Denmark, Tycho
Brahe used patronage, printing, friendship, and marriage to incorporate
men and women skilled in science, technology and the fine arts into
his program of cosmic reform. This pioneering study includes capsule
biographies of over a hundred individuals, all of whom helped shape
the culture of the Scientific Revolution.

Kepler
to Werner von Braun, sees in the rise of spaceflight a metaphor
of modern history as a recurrent story of transformation and rebirth.
The second recalls the romantic vision of the decades before Sputnik.
The third essay looks at the moon landing as the signature event
of our century, while the fourth offers new perspectives on the
nature of wonder. The final essay returns to the themes of transformation
and rebirth.

From
www.100suns.com:
Between July 1945 and November 1962 the United States is known to
have conducted 216 atmospheric and underwater nuclear tests. After
the Limited Test Ban Treaty between the U.S. and the Soviet Union
in 1963, nuclear testing went underground. It became literally invisible—but
more frequent: the United States conducted a further 723 underground
tests until 1992. 100 Suns documents the era of visible nuclear
testing, the atmospheric era, with 100 photographs drawn by Michael
Light from the archives at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the
U.S.National Archives in Maryland. It includes previously classified
material from the clandestine Lookout Mountain Air Force Station
based in Hollywood, whose film directors, cameramen, and still photographers
were sworn to secrecy. The title, 100 Suns, refers to the
response by J.Robert Oppenheimer to the world's first nuclear explosion
in New Mexico when he quoted a passage from the Bhagavad Gita, the
classic Vedic text, "If the radiance of a thousand suns were
to burst forth at once in the sky, that would be like the splendor
of the Mighty One... I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
100 Suns forms an awesome sequel to Michael Light's Full
Moon, which he constructed from the archives of NASA.

Featuring
glorious photographs, original illustrations and clear prose in
a large format, One Universe explores the physical principles
of motion, matter and energy that govern the workings of our own
world so that we can appreciate how they operate in the cosmos around
us. Bands of color in a sunlit crystal and the spectrum of starlight
in giant telescopes; the arc of a hard-hit baseball and the orbit
of the moon; traffic patterns on a freeway and the spiral arms in
a galaxy full of starsall tied together in grand and simple
ways.

A comprehensive
mathematically detailed textbook on classical celestial mechanics,
including numerical methods, astrodynamics of artificial satellites
and interplanetary craft. This revised edition involves updates
to all chapters and the addition of a new chapter on The Caledonian
Symmetrical N-Body Problem, explaining the principles and applications
from first principles. This will be the first time this new method
has appeared in a textbook. The contents have been reorganized and
extended to encompass new methods and teaching demands and to cover
more modern applied

Chondrites
are the largest group of meteorites. They can provide unique insights
into the origins and early evolution of our solar system, and even
into the relationships between our solar system and other stars
in the vicinity of our sun. The largest structural components of
most chondrites are the glass-bearing chondrules, and there are
numerous theories for their origin. Sears summarizes the ideas surrounding
the origin and history of chondrules and chondrites, drawing on
research from the various scientific disciplines involved. With
citations to every known published
paper on the topic and extensive illustrations.

In
Origins of Existence astrophysicist
Fred Adams takes a radically different approach from the long tradition
of biologists and spiritual leaders who have tried to explain how
the universe supports the development of life. He argues that life
followed naturally from the laws of physics -- which were established
as the universe burst into existence at the big bang. Those elegant
laws drove the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets -- including
some like our Earth. That chain of creation produced all the tiny
chemical structures and vast celestial landscapes required for life.

Ultimately,
physical laws and the complexity they generate define the kind of
biospheres that are possible -- from an Amazon rain forest to a
frigid ocean beneath an ice sheet on a Jovian moon.

This
is a book about the beginning of things—of the universe, matter,
stars, and planetary systems, and finally, of life itself.
After surveying prescientific accounts of the origins of life, Lurquin
examines the concepts of modern physics and cosmology, in particular
the two pillars of modern physics, relativity and quantum theory,
and how they can be applied to the Big Bang model of the creation
of the universe. The book then considers the role of genetics and
DNA and ultimately examines how "protocells" may have
started a kind of integrated metabolism and how horizontal gene
transfer may have speeded up evolution. Finally, Lurquin examines
the possibilities of the end of life and the destruction of the
universe, either by nuclear war or natural means.

This
concise and beautifully illustrated book traces the evolution of
the Cosmos from the Big Bang to the development of intelligent life
on Earth, conveying clear science in an engaging narrative. By mapping
the history of the Universe for introductory science and astrobiology
course for non-science majors, this book explores many of the most
fascinating questions in science. What is the origin of the Universe?
How do stars and planets form? How does life begin? How did intelligence
arise? Are we alone in the Cosmos? Physics, chemistry, biology,
astronomy and geology are combined to create a chronicle of events
in which the swirling vapors in the primordial cloud of the Universe
evolved over billions of years into conscious life.

The
glowing cloud in Orion's sword, the Orion Nebula is a thing of beauty
in the night sky; it is also the closest center of massive star
formation — a stellar nursery that reproduces the conditions
in which our own Sun formed some 4.5 billion years ago. The study
of the Orion Nebula, focused upon by ever more powerful telescopes
from Galileo's time to our own, clarifies how stars are formed,
and how we have come to understand the process. C. Robert O'Dell
has spent a lifetime studying Orion, and in this book he explains
what the Nebula is, how it shines, its role in giving birth to stars,
and the insights it affords into how common (or rare) planet formation
might be.

An
account of astronomy's extended engagement with one remarkable celestial
object, this book also tells the story of astronomy over the last
four centuries. To help readers appreciate the Nebula and its secrets,
O'Dell unfolds his tale chronologically, as astrophysical knowledge
developed, and our knowledge of the Nebula and the night sky improved.

Because
he served as chief scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope, O'Dell
conveys a sense of continuity with his professional ancestors as
he describes the construction of the world's most powerful observatory.
The result is a rare insider's view of this observatory —
and, from that unique perspective, an intimate observer's understanding
of one of the sky's most instructive and magnificent objects.

Our
universe seems strangely "biophilic," or hospitable to
life. Is this happenstance, providence, or coincidence? According
to cosmologist Martin Rees, the answer depends on the answer to
another question, the one posed by Einstein's famous remark: "What
interests me most is whether God could have made the world differently."
This highly engaging book explores the fascinating consequences
of the answer being ''yes.'' Rees explores the notion that our universe
is just a part of a vast "multiverse," or ensemble of
universes, in which most of the other universes are lifeless. What
we call the laws of nature would then be no more than local bylaws,
imposed in the aftermath of our own Big Bang. In this scenario,
our cosmic habitat would be a special, possibly unique universe
where the prevailing laws of physics allowed life to emerge.

Rees
begins by exploring the nature of our solar system and examining
a range of related issues such as whether our universe is or isn't
infinite. He asks, for example: How likely is life? How credible
is the Big Bang theory? Rees then peers into the long-range cosmic
future before tracing the causal chain backward to the beginning.
He concludes by trying to untangle the paradoxical notion that our
entire universe, stretching 10 billion light-years in all directions,
emerged from an infinitesimal speck.

A scientist
known for unraveling the complexities of the universe over millions
of years, Sir Martin Rees now warns that humankind is potentially
the maker of its own demise--and that of the cosmos. Though the
twenty-first century could be the critical era in which life on
Earth spreads beyond our solar system, it is just as likely that
we have endangered the future of the entire universe. With clarity
and precision, Rees maps out the ways technology could destroy our
species and thereby foreclose the potential of a living universe
whose evolution has just begun. Rees boldly forecasts the startling
risks that stem from our accelerating rate of technological advances.
We could be wiped out by lethal "engineered" airborne
viruses, or by rogue nano-machines that replicate catastrophically.
Experiments that crash together atomic nuclei could start a chain
reaction that erodes all atoms of Earth, or could even tear the
fabric of space itself. Through malign intent or by mistake, a single
event could trigger global disaster. Though we can never completely
safeguard our future, increased regulation and inspection can help
us to prevent catastrophe.

Rees's
vision of the infinite future that we have put at risk — a
cosmos more vast and diverse than any of us has ever imagined —
both a work of scientific originality and a humanistic call on behalf
of the future of life.

The
Universe in which we live is unimaginably vast and ancient, with
countless star-systems, galaxies and extraordinary phenomena. This
collection of essays and highly personal accounts by some of the
worlds foremost astrophysicists on extragalactic astronomy
and cosmology at the dawn of the 21st century reveals much more
than the wonders and achievements of modern astronomy, more than
just its techniques and state of knowledge. Our Universe
also gives unique perspectives on what drives these extraordinary,
talented scientists and how their careers and very lives have been
shaped by a burning desire to understand our Universe.

Skywatcher
John Naylor offers practical advice about where and when you can
expect to see natural phenomena, what you will see and how to improve
your chances of seeing it. He takes in both the night and the day
sky, and deals only with what can be seen with the naked eye. Drawing
on science, history, literature and mythology, and assuming only
basic scientific knowledge, Out of the Blue is for everyone who enjoys being outdoors and who feel curious or puzzled
about things optical and astronomical. Contents:1. Daylight, 2.
Shadows, 3. Mirages, 4. Sunset and sunrise, 5. The rainbow, 6. Coronae
and glories, 7. Atmospheric halos, 8. The night sky, 9. The moon,
10. Eclipses, 11. Planets, 12. Stars, and 13. Comets and meteors.

For
almost forty years, Chet Raymo has walked a one-mile path from his
house in North Easton, Massachusetts, to Stonehill College where
he has taught physics and astronomy. The woods, fields, and stream
he passes are as familiar as his own backyard, yet he admits, "There
has never been a day I have walked the path without seeing something
noteworthy. . . . Every pebble and wildflower has a story to tell."

With
each step, the landscape he traverses becomes richer and more multidimensional,
opening door after door into astronomy, geology, biology, history,
and literature, making the path universal in scope. "The flake
of granite in the path was once at the core of towering mountains
pushed up across New England when continents collided," he
writes. "The purple loosestrife beside the stream emigrated
from Europe in the 1800s as a garden ornamental, then went wantonly
native in a land of wild frontiers. The light from the star Arcturus
I see reflected in the brook beneath the bridge at night has been
traveling across space for forty years before entering my eye. I
have attended to all of these stories and tried to hear what the
landscape has to say. . . . Scratch a name in a landscape and history
bubbles up like a spring."

From
pictures of the planets on every school house wall to global positioning
and continental drift, this is a history of the personal accomplishments
of a small handful of scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
in Pasadena, California. As a leading mathematician and computer
programmer involved with these projects, Strand paints a picture
of a complex technology with its inter-woven successes and frustrations.

Patterns
in the Void examines the great dark matter and dark regions
that pervade the universe, from elementary particles to the immense
areas of "vacuum" that make up most of deep space, and
everything that is – or is not. Like the void itself, the
book ranges in temporal and spatial scales—from our human
world, down to the molecular and subatomic world, and up into the
farthest reaches of the expanding universe. Building upon the great
theories that broke through physics and biophysics in the twentieth
century, Patterns in the Void weaves the human element
into understanding modern science, telling stories of ancient sacrifices,
paranormal experiences, purported alien abductions, and more—all
part of the human dilemma to make sense about the vast unknown.

The
processes that space science missions follow, from proposal to a
space agency, to successful mission completion, are numerous. This
book contains contributions from experts involved in today's space
missions at various levels. Chapters cover mission phases and implementation,
launchers and cruise strategies, including gravity assist maneuvers
and different thrust scenarios. The payload needed for remote sensing
of the universe at various wavelengths and for in-situ measurements
is described in detail, and particular attention is paid to the
most recent planetary landers. Although the book concentrates on
the ESA program Cosmic Visions, its content is relevant to space
science missions at all space agencies.

For
many years the federal government funded the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence (SETI). Though in actuality SETI never did make contact
with signals from an alien civilization, the search continues to
this day through privately funded endeavors. How likely is it that
intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe? This is the intriguing
question that has prompted William Burger's illuminating and absorbing
exploration of the unusual circumstances surrounding life on earth.

Examining
the critical episodes in our planet's early history and the peculiar
trajectory of life on our world, Burger shows that the long odyssey
of planet Earth may be utterly unique in our galaxy. For example,
he describes features of the sun that are far from average. By some
estimates, 95 percent of the other stars in the Milky Way galaxy
are smaller, and it is unlikely that any of them could supply the
energy requirements for a life-sustaining planet such as our own.
Earth, as the third planet from the sun, sits within the "Goldilocks"
orbit: it is in the perfect position to receive not too much heat
(like Mercury and Venus) and not too little (like more distant planets
of the solar system) but just the right amount to foster the development
of life.

Turning
to the evolution of life itself, Burger points out a host of accidents
(for example, the extinction of dinosaurs and the proliferation
of flowering plants) that make the steps along the way to Homo sapiens
seem like very rare events indeed. He also calls attention to the
curious fact that the early hominid brain tripled in size over the
relatively short time period leading to the appearance of modern
human beings. Finally, he notes aspects of humanity's cultural evolution
that seem unlikely to have been duplicated anywhere else.

Spanning
over 40 years, these collected letters offer an unprecedented look
at the writer and thinker whose genius for science and life made
him a legend in his own time. With missives to and from luminaries
as Victory Weisskopf, Stephen Wolfram, James Watson, and Edward
Teller, alongside a remarkable selection of letters to and from
fans, students, family, and people from around the world eager for
Feynman's advice and counsel. Edited and with additional commentary
from his daughter Michelle.

Perilous
Planet Earth places the present concern about the threat to Earth
from asteroids and comets within an historical context, looking
at the evidence for past events within the geological and historical
records. Two particular historical aspects are considered. First,
the author looks at the way in which prevailing views about modes
of global change have evolved dramatically over the years. The move
away from support for change through relatively rare catastrophic
events, toward theories of uniformity and incremental change is
charted. The author then discusses how modern theories consider
both catastrophic and gradual change to be important forces in shaping
the world around us. The second theme considers the way in which
catastrophic events are now seen to have influenced the course of
evolution in the distant past, as well as the rise and fall of civilizations
in more recent times. Also reviewed are the host of myths and legends
that may have had their origin in actual catastrophic events, making
a case for more research on the frequency and causes of natural
catastrophes in order to prepare for future events.

The
Photographic Atlas of the Moon is a daily photographic
guide to observing the features of the Moon through a 40cm telescope
and high-resolution, low-speed film. Whole Moon images are provided
for each day of the 29-day lunar cycle, with labeled features and
descriptive text. Selected lunar features are shown at high magnification
to highlight and clearly illustrate certain regions. All lunar features
are labeled using current IAU terminology. A comprehensive set of
appendices detail the phases of the Moon, give a chronology of its
lunar selenography and index all lunar features named in the text.

Inflationary
cosmology has been developed over the last twenty years to remedy
serious shortcomings in the standard hot big bang model of the universe.
Taking an original approach, this textbook explains the basis of
modern cosmology and shows where the theoretical results come from.
The book is divided into two parts; the first deals with the homogeneous
and isotropic model of the Universe, the second part discusses how
inhomogeneities can explain its structure. Established material
such as the inflation and quantum cosmological perturbation are
presented in great detail.

Provides
a comprehensive overview of the current theoretical and observational
understanding of the interstellar medium of galaxies. With emphasis
on the microscopic physical and chemical processes in space, and
their influence on the macroscopic structure of the interstellar
medium of galaxies, the book includes the latest developments in
this area of molecular astrophysics. The various heating, cooling,
and chemical processes relevant for the rarefied gas and submicron-sized
dust grains that constitute the interstellar medium are discussed
in detail. The physical and chemical properties of large polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbon molecules and their role in the interstellar
medium are highlighted and the physics and chemistry of warm and
dense photodissociation regions are discussed.

A graduate-level
text covering the fundamental physics and chemistry required for
a modern understanding of the interstellar medium. Radiation mechanisms
are comprehensively presented, and extensive examples are drawn
from observations in the X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared,
mm/sub mm, and radio observations. This book goes beyond a phenomenological
study of the interstellar medium to give a detailed quantitative
treatment of the radiative and dynamical interactions between stars
and the interstellar medium, with an emphasis on a physical understanding
of these processes.

Spectacular
observational breakthroughs by recent experiments, and particularly
the WMAP satellite, have heralded a new epoch of CMB science forty
years after its original discovery. Taking a physical approach,
the authors probe the problem of the 'darkness' of the Universe:
the origin and evolution of dark energy and matter in the cosmos.
Starting with the observational background of modern cosmology,
they provide an up-to-date and accessible review of this fascinating
yet complex subject. Topics discussed include the kinetics of the
electromagnetic radiation in the Universe, the ionization history
of cosmic plasmas, the origin of primordial perturbations in light
of the inflation paradigm, and the formation of anisotropy and polarization
of the CMB.

Extragalactic
radio sources are among the most unusual and spectacular objects
in the universe, with sizes in excess of millions of light years,
radiated energies over ten times those of normal galaxies, and a
unique morphology. They reveal some of the most dramatic physical
events ever seen and provide essential clues to the basic evolutionary
tracks followed by all galaxies and groups of galaxies.

In
The Physics of Extragalactic Radio Sources, David De Young
provides a clearly written overview of what is currently known about
these objects. A unique feature of the book is De Young's emphasis
on the physical processes associated with extragalactic radio sources:
their evolution,
their environment, and their use as probes to solve other astrophysical
problems. He also makes extensive use of the large amount of data
now available from observations at x-ray, optical, and radio wavelengths
to illustrate his main points.

Art
historian John Moffitt discusses the popular iconography depicting
alleged extraterrestrial (ET) visitors and the widespread appeal
of this New Age craze as a mass cultural phenomenon. A thorough
skeptic, Moffitt is interested in kitschy ET portraiture, not as
evidence of aliens among us, but for what this imagery reveals about
contemporary culture. By placing the present cultural moment in
historical context, he demonstrates how typical portrayals of aliens
reflect long-running (even ancient) cultural motifs.

It
is just over ten years since the first planet outside our solar
system was detected. Since then, much work has focused on understanding
how extrasolar planets may form, and discovering the frequency of
potentially habitable Earth-like planets. This volume addresses
fundamental questions concerning the formation of planetary systems
in general, and of our solar system in particular. Drawing from
recent advances in observational, experimental, and theoretical
research, it summarizes our current understanding of the planet
formation processes, and addresses major open questions and research
issues. Chapters are written by leading experts in the field of
planet formation and extrasolar planet studies. The book is based
on a meeting held at Ringberg Castle in Bavaria.

Including
results from the Cassini space mission to Saturn, this summary of
current knowledge of planetary rings covers all aspects of the subject
with particular emphasis on ring history and evolution. Basic physical
processes and simple mathematical approaches are supported by many
images and diagrams that display the spectacular phenomena seen
in these fascinating structures. Highlighted topics include Saturn's
F ring, Neptune's rings, Jupiter's rings, stochastic models, ring
age and evolution, and Cassini results. The text is supported by
a glossary of terms and an extensive bibliography.

This
book is a comprehensive overview of planetary science, covering
different disciplinary approaches to the study of the structures
of planets, the stars they orbit, and the interactions between them.
With the discovery of over 100 extra-solar planets and our increasing
desire to understand the formation of planetary systems and the
prospect of life on other worlds, the text is particularly pertinent
now. It is only through a detailed understanding of the bodies in
our solar system that we can begin to understand the many planetary
systems other than our own that we are discovering.

Covering
a wide range of subjects in planetary science, including astronomy,
astrophysics, geophysics, geology, and mineralogy, this text is
suitable for readers of different levels and scientific backgrounds,
including those studying planetary science for the first time. Twelve
descriptive chapters cover the diverse bodies of our solar system
including satellites, planetary rings, asteroids, comets, meteorites,
and interstellar dust. Accompanying these chapters are 42 detailed
topics that discuss specialized subjects quantitatively. These subjects
include mineralogy, stellar formation and evolution, solar system
dynamics, atmospheric physics, planetary interiors, thermodynamics,
planetary astrophysics and exobiology. Problem sets and answers
are also included.

Dava
Sobel explores the planets’ origins and oddities through the
lens of popular culture, from astrology, mythology, and science
fiction to art, music, poetry, biography, and history. Whether revealing
what lies behind Venus’s cocoon of acid clouds or capturing
the excitement at JPL when pictures from Cassini at Saturn are beamed
to Earth, The Planets is a distinctive view of our place
in the Universe. Beautifully designed and printed two-color throughout.

With
the Hubble Space Telescope's next servicing mission still uncertain,
identifying the most crucial science to be performed by this superb
telescope has become of paramount importance. With this goal in
mind, this book presents a review of some of the most important
open questions in astronomy today. World experts examine topics
ranging from extrasolar planets and star formation to supermassive
black holes and the reionization of the universe. Special emphasis
is placed on what astronomical observations should be carried out
during the next few years to enable breakthroughs in our understanding
of a complex and dynamic universe. In particular, the reviewers
attempt to identify those topics to which the Hubble Space Telescope
can uniquely contribute.

These
fifteen biographies, written by students from the Illinois Mathematics
and Science Academy, reveal the human factors that influenced the
lives of successful scientists: how they chose their individual
career paths, what obstacles they had to overcome along the way,
and where they think science will lead society in the future. The
various biographies cover a wide range of fascinating personalities
and their disciplines, among them: Story Musgrave and Sally Ride,
Vera Rubin, George Smoot, Edward Witten, and Charles Townes.

For
nearly half a century the pickled brain of Albert Einstein has roamed
the world — in Tupperware containers, courier packages, and, most
famously, car trunks. In Possessing Genius, award-winning journalist Carolyn Abraham presents the whole story —
the mysteries, myths, and almost unbelievable facts — of the
brain's postmortem odyssey.

The
story begins with in April 1955, when Thomas Stolz Harvey, chief
pathologist at Princeton Hospital, found himself in charge of dissecting
the cadaver of the greatest scientist of his age, perhaps of any
age. He seized the opportunity to do something "noble."
Using an electric saw Harvey sliced through the skull and gingerly
removed the organ that would both define and haunt the rest of his
life. Harvey struck a controversial deal with Einstein's family
to keep the brain, swearing to safeguard it from souvenir hunters
and publicity seekers, and to make it available only for serious
scientific inquiry. Not a neuroscientist himself, he became the
unlikely custodian of this object of intense curiosity and speculation,
and the self-styled bulwark against the relentless power of Einstein's
growing celebrity.

Bridging
the post-war era and the new millennium, Possessing Genius
is the first comprehensive account of the circuitous path the brain
took with Harvey during the decades it remained in his possession.
Harvey permitted Einstein's gray matter to be sliced, diced, probed,
prodded, and weighed by those hoping to solve the enigma, and locate
the source, of genius itself. Einstein's brain was more than a subject
of scientific investigation but a kind of holy relic; the history
of its perambulations since 1955 reflects the vicissitudes and vanities
underpinning what we believe makes us human. Abraham has gathered
together all fascinating details and documents of the brain's saga-including
previously unpublished correspondence between Harvey and Otto Nathan,
the executor of Einstein's estate.

A concise,
illustrated guidebook for amateur astronomers. With straightforward
text and color illustrations, Practical Astronomy covers
all the basics amateur astronomers need to know. Astronomer Storm
Dunlop explains how to observe the night sky using the naked eye,
binoculars or a small telescope. Aspiring astronomers will learn
how to find constellations and visible planets before locating more
challenging phenomena. The book also includes: coverage of comets,
planets, major stars, constellations, nebulae, the Milky Way and
other galaxies; the latest star charts; instructions for using star
maps and planispheres; color images and maps by celestial cartographer,
Wil Tirion; directions for recording observations with photography
and drawings; the latest images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Astronomy,
like any experimental subject, needs statistical methods to interpret
data reliably. This practical handbook presents the most relevant
statistical and probabilistic machinery for use in observational
astronomy. Classical parametric and non-parametric methods are covered,
but there is a strong emphasis on Bayesian solutions and the importance
of probability in experimental inference. Chapters cover basic probability,
correlation analysis, hypothesis testing, Bayesian modeling, time
series analysis, luminosity functions, and clustering. Contains
many worked examples, and problems that make use of databases which
are available on the Web.

Is
science beautiful? Yes, argues acclaimed philosopher and historian
of science Robert P. Crease in this exploration of history's most
beautiful experiments, an engrossing journey through nearly 2,500
years of scientific innovation: the first measurement of the earth's
circumference, accomplished in the third century B.C. by Eratosthenes
using sticks, shadows, and simple geometry; Foucault's mesmerizing
pendulum, a cannonball suspended from the dome of the Panthéon
in Paris that allows us to see the rotation of the earth on its
axis; Galileo—the only scientist with two experiments in the
top ten—brilliantly drawing on his musical training to measure
the speed of falling bodies; and the quantum world, in the most
beautiful experiment of all.

The
world wasn't ready. Or at least the U.S. wasn't. In the early 1960s,
thirteen American women were invited to take the same battery of
tests the male astronauts known as the Mercury 7 took. They were
experienced pilots, ready to serve their country, and they all passed
— sometimes outdoing their male counterparts. They assumed,
with good reason, that they were being considered by NASA for the
space program.

Thanks
to political maneuverings on the highest level and a pre-feminist
society, astrophysicist Sally Ride would be the first American woman
in space in 1983 and Eileen Collins would be the first to take the
controls of an American spacecraft in 1994 — some twenty and
thirty years after the "Fellow Lady Astronaut Trainees"
had all but abandoned their dreams of spaceflight.

Stephanie
Nolan, a foreign correspondent for The Globe and Mail,
interviewed the eleven surviving "FLAT"s and vividly tells
their stories, putting the events in a cultural and political context
and detailing the women's struggles at home and on the job.

Since
their discovery in 1967, pulsars have assumed a central role in
astronomy and astrophysics by offering an opportunity to explore
theoretical physics under extreme conditions. Thoroughly revised
for its third edition, Pulsar Astronomy covers research over
wavelengths ranging from radio through optical and x-ray to gamma-rays.
Topics range from the physics of neutron star interiors to the astrophysics
of binary stars and the recent tests of general relativity.